Blizzard's 'Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft' for Mac Now in Open Beta

macrumors bot

Blizzard's newest game, Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft has entered open beta, which means it is now available for all Mac and PC users in North America. Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft is a free-to-play collectible card game that is set in the Warcraft universe and focuses on 1v1 matches.

In the game, each player chooses a hero with a specific skill set. Heroes are all based on Warcraft lore, so well-known characters like Jaina Proudmoore, Gul'dan, Uther the Lightbringer, and Thall are featured. In the free-to-play Play Mode, Players face each other with a deck of 30 cards and aim to win in either casual or ranked games.

​

Quote

Sheathe your sword, draw your deck, and get ready for Hearthstone - the fast paced strategy card game that's easy to learn and massively fun. Start a free game on Battle.net and play your cards to sling spells, summon creatures, and command the heroes of Warcraft in duels of epic strategy.

With powerful prebuilt decks, and hundreds of additional cards to win, craft or purchase - your collection never stops evolving.

Challenge players of all skill levels on Battle.net or hone your skills in practice matches against some of the greatest strategists of Azeroth - Thrall, Uther, Gul'dan, and more!

Click to expand...

Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft has been in closed beta since August, but for the first time, anyone can download the game. Currently, the beta has been opened in North America, with plans to extend access to other countries over the next few days. Blizzard also has plans to introduce an iOS version of the game in the future.

macrumors 65816

In case anyone is wondering, the game is in fact free-to-play, but it also can be pay-to-win like any other CCG. You expand your card pool by leveling up each character or acquiring Expert Packs (booster packs). You can buy 1 pack for 100 gold (in-game currency) or earn them by completing quests. You can also buy multiple packs ranging from 2 for $2.99 to 40 for $49.99.

macrumors 65816

What with the addition of Kung Fu Panda in MoP, Blizz is really targeting the 12-and-under set these days.

Click to expand...

You do realize that the WoW collectible card game is like 9 years old, right? Little late to complain now.

This is something quite different, and quite good...and for adults. But I can already tell you don't know much about this as you think Kung Fu Panda came before the Pandarian Brewmaster in WC3 over 5 years earlier.

macrumors demi-god

You do realize that the WoW collectible card game is like 9 years old, right? Little late to complain now.

This is something quite different, and quite good...and for adults. But I can already tell you don't know much about this as you think Kung Fu Panda came before the Pandarian Brewmaster in WC3 over 5 years earlier.

Click to expand...

This. You beat me to it.

I've been part of the closed beta for Hearthstone for a couple of months now. It's a fun game although it needs some kind of deck builder helper tool thing. I reached a point where I have a load of 'good' cards but not enough to be able to build decks that people post online. I know I'm meant to learn the cards by trial and error but that is frustrating when I don't have oodles of time to spend. They need to ease the learning curve, in my opinion. My friend is loving the game though and has bought a load of cards and spent loads of time experimenting so knows his decks.

macrumors 6502

I've been part of the closed beta for Hearthstone for a couple of months now. It's a fun game although it needs some kind of deck builder helper tool thing. I reached a point where I have a load of 'good' cards but not enough to be able to build decks that people post online. I know I'm meant to learn the cards by trial and error but that is frustrating when I don't have oodles of time to spend. They need to ease the learning curve, in my opinion. My friend is loving the game though and has bought a load of cards and spent loads of time experimenting so knows his decks.

Click to expand...

There is a deck builder. If you click the "Suggest a Card" button it guides you through constructing a balanced deck (as far as mana costs and minion count goes.)

macrumors demi-god

There is a deck builder. If you click the "Suggest a Card" button it guides you through constructing a balanced deck (as far as mana costs and minion count goes.)

Click to expand...

Yeah but that's next to useless. It just displays random cards based on the spell cost that would make a balanced deck mana wise. It doesn't look at your cards and go "you have a good number of pirate cards, here's a suggestion" or "these cards can go well together to create really strong plays" etc.

macrumors 65816

Ive never really been a card game guy but I gotta say the designers are doing all they can with the UI and whatnot to sell this game haha. Dont get me wrong im sure the game play is creative and what not but its really the design that will set this apart from the 10million other rpg battle like card games out there i guess.

macrumors regular

You do realize that the WoW collectible card game is like 9 years old, right? Little late to complain now.

This is something quite different, and quite good...and for adults. But I can already tell you don't know much about this as you think Kung Fu Panda came before the Pandarian Brewmaster in WC3 over 5 years earlier.

macrumors 6502

Yeah but that's next to useless. It just displays random cards based on the spell cost that would make a balanced deck mana wise. It doesn't look at your cards and go "you have a good number of pirate cards, here's a suggestion" or "these cards can go well together to create really strong plays" etc.

Click to expand...

Actually, it does make suggestions. If you have too little of certain mana cost cards, it'll recommend higher or lower mana cards. Or more minions.

Yeah, the deck builder isn't going to craft an awesome, themed deck for you. That's up to you to do. That's the point of the game.

MacRumors attracts a broad audience
of both consumers and professionals interested in
the latest technologies and products. We also boast an active community focused on
purchasing decisions and technical aspects of the iPhone, iPod, iPad, and Mac platforms.